Zeroes in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has now issued a note denominated 10 billion local dollars, which The Guardian says is worth about thirteen pounds—today. Tomorrow it may be worth nothing as the paper estimates the inflation rate there at 40 sextillion percent. Give or take.

I don’t even know how to write 40 sextillion—40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000? Would that be seasonally-adjusted? I guess that means in practical terms that once you lay hands on one of these new 10 billion Z-dollar bills, you rush across the street from the bank and try to buy a peppermint with it before noon.

Mr Mugabe, the truly repugnant president of what’s left of the country, made another demented speech yesterday daring his African neighbors to come oust him by force of arms. ‘Zimbabwe is mine’, he reminded them in a phrase that will surely live through the ages. With mass starvation and a raging cholera epidemic consuming the country, most of its unlucky citizens would probably happily let him have it and go live elsewhere.

It is inconceivable that this situation can continue for much longer. Perhaps if enough high-ranking military and police officers’ and their relatives suffer more directly, they will be moved to take the necessary actions. Under these conditions any spark could set off an uprising—the sooner the better.